Dorset Council considering takeover of local care home
The authority's Care Dorset business is looking to expand provision
Dorset Council is considering funding the purchase of an operating care home.
Councillors took just two minutes at a shareholder meeting of Care Dorset yesterday (Wednesday 15th January) to vote for a closed-door discussion on the proposal.
Care Dorset is the council-owned, arms-length, care provider which operates care homes, day centre and ‘at home’ services throughout the county after taking over from Tricuro in 2022.
Council leader, Cllr Nick Ireland, who chaired the brief shareholders meeting explained to councillors that the discussion should be held in exempt business, without the press or public present, because of the confidentiality of the subject, which would include the financial details.
Dorset Council has a policy of expanding care home provision – with plans for three extra-care homes, one having already opened in Gillingham with another planned for Bridport on the site of Sidney Gale House.
Dorset Council’s own projections indicate that by 2035 the county could require an extra 2,384 adult care beds to accommodate increased demand – a 67 per cent increase on the current provision.